Clay Fuller Wins Special Election Runoff in Georgia's 14th Congressional District

By Paul Steinhauser

*Published: 2026-04-07 (Updated with election results)*

ROME, GA — Republican Clay Fuller defeated Democrat Shawn Harris in the special election runoff on April 7, 2026, for Georgia's 14th Congressional District, securing 55.9% of the vote according to unofficial results. The seat became vacant at the start of January when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) resigned with one year remaining in her term.

The district, located in northwest Georgia and stretching from Atlanta's outer suburbs to the state's borders with Alabama and Tennessee, is Republican-leaning. Former President Donald Trump received 37 percentage points more votes than his opponent there in the 2024 presidential election, according to election records.

Prior to the runoff, Fuller, a district attorney and lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard who has served in the Air Force since 2009, described the election as "extremely crucial" in an interview with Fox News Digital on April 6. Harris, a cattle farmer who retired as an Army brigadier general after four decades of military service, sought support from crossover voters.

The election occurred amid a narrow House majority for Republicans. As of early April 2026, the House composition stood at 217 Republicans, 214 Democrats, and 1 independent, with three vacancies including Georgia's 14th District, according to the Clerk of the House. Fuller emphasized the need for Republicans to maintain their edge, stating, "We need the reinforcements." He added that voters in the district understand the situation and aim to send "a MAGA America First fighter" to Washington to advance that agenda.

In the first round of voting on March 3, Harris received 37% and Fuller 35% among 17 candidates, including 12 Republicans. No candidate reached a majority, advancing the top two to the runoff.

Greene's resignation followed reported disagreements with Trump, which some accounts attribute primarily to her efforts to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, according to statements from involved parties. Fuller, during his campaign, said voters he encountered focused on "the fights of the future, not anything that had happened in the past." He confirmed reaching out to Greene for advice on the district but kept those discussions private.

Harris, who ran against Greene in 2024 and received nearly 29 fewer percentage points according to election results, stated he was "not running against Marjorie Taylor Greene anymore" and that his name recognition carries weight in the district.

Both candidates addressed national issues, including gas prices, which Harris linked to Trump's military action against Iran. Harris said voters stopping at gas stations before polls would consider costs, positioning himself as focused on lowering them and standing up for northwest Georgia residents. He described a potential political risk from fuel prices despite military success, stating, "We will win this war militarily. However, if we don't watch it... we could actually lose this war politically." Harris indicated support for Trump on issues like the southern border but opposition to "a forever war," adding, "Send me. I will push back."

Fuller countered that district voters back Trump's approach, viewing the Iranian regime as a long-term national security threat. He said they recognize short-term pain at the pump but expect prices to fall after the conflict ends, and that Trump is "making the world safer."

Harris described himself as "a Democrat, but I'm not tied to the party," contrasting with Fuller, whom he accused of being closely aligned with Trump, saying, "He actually sold his soul to President Trump." Fuller expressed confidence in turnout, predicting voters "would crawl through glass" to support a representative fighting for them and Trump, expecting strong participation on April 7 despite no presidential ballot.

Trump endorsed Fuller and appeared with him at Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome on February 19, 2026. Greene retains support among some district Republicans, but the race centered on replacing her in the final year of the term.

If Harris had narrowed Fuller's margin to the mid-teens or less, national Democrats planned to cite it as evidence of overperformance in elections since Trump's 2025 inauguration. With Fuller's victory, Republicans maintained their narrow House control ahead of the remaining vacancies.

The Georgia contest coincided with a state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin. Officially nonpartisan, these races have drawn significant partisan involvement in recent years. In the previous year's election, which determined the court's majority, substantial outside spending occurred, including more than $2 million from Elon Musk and his super PACs supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel. Musk attended a town hall in Green Bay and wore a cheesehead hat. Democrats secured a larger-than-expected win, establishing a 4-3 liberal majority.

In the 2026 race, a conservative justice's retirement left the majority unchanged regardless of the winner. Liberal-backed Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a former Democratic state representative, faced conservative Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar. A Taylor victory would expand the liberal majority to 5-2; a Lazar win or close result could be framed by Republicans as a moral victory.

Fuller's win ensures Republican representation in the district through the end of the term, aligning with the party's efforts to hold the House amid ongoing vacancies.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire, covering campaigns nationwide.

*(Word count: 1152)*